Age-related maculadegeneration (AMD) ione of majoretinal diseaseleading to central vision loss.Apresent,the pathogenesiof AMD ibelow understood.Ovethe pasdecade years,dysmetabolism of extracellulamatrix (ECM) regulated by matrix metalloproteinase(MMPs) and tissue inhibitoof metalloproteinase(TIMPs) system play an importanrole in the pathogenesiof AMD.The imbalance of MMPand TIMPleadto differenpathological changeof Bruch 'membrane,which involvein drusen formation and regulatechoroidal neovascularization (CNV).The level of elastin-derived peptides(EDPs) reflectthe level and activity of M MPs,and the elevated level of EDPincreasethe risk of early AMD to advance neovasculaAMD.Thiarticle reviewthe research progression of MMPs,TIMPand the elastin-derived peptideand in AMD.

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of mitophagy in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in rats.Methods Thirty-six adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups (eachn = 12): spontaneous breathing group (CON group), normal tidal volume (VT) group (NVT group, VT was 8 mL/kg) and high VT group (HVT group, VT was 40 mL/kg). All rats received endotracheal tube by tracheostomy. The rats in CON group were maintained spontaneous breathing, while those in NVT and HVT groups received mechanical ventilation with corresponding VT. After 4 hours of ventilation, the serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were harvested. The lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio was assessed, and the histopathology changes were observed by light microscopy, and the ultra structure changes in type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cell (AECⅡ) were observed by electron microscopy. The levels of interleukin (IL-1β and IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum and BALF were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The total protein in BALF was measured by bicinchoninic acid methods, and the infiltrated cells in BALF were counted. The mRNA expressions and protein levels of microtube associated light chain 3B (LC3B), mitochondrial DNA coded cytochrome C oxidase Ⅳ (COX-Ⅳ) and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in lung tissues were determined by real-time fluorescent quantitation reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western Blot.Results The histopathology of lung tissue and the ultra structure of AEC Ⅱ were normal in CON group and NVT group, and the obvious inflammatory changes and pathological injury were found in HVT group. Compared with CON and NVT groups, the W/D ratio in HVT group was significantly increased (8.53±1.05 vs. 5.12±0.65, 5.57±0.55, bothP < 0.05), and total protein, infiltrated cells, and IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in BALF were significantly increased [total protein (g/L): 2.35±0.45 vs. 1.46±0.34, 1.76±0.51; infiltratedcells (×105/mL): 2.05±0.48 vs. 0.40±0.08, 0.60±0.23; IL-1β (ng/L): 119.82±6.56 vs. 76.15±3.32, 79.39±4.44; IL-6 (μg/L): 4.10±0.52 vs. 1.97±0.40, 2.27±0.36; TNF-α (mg/L): 1.49±0.28 vs. 0.43±0.23, 0.61±0.24; all P < 0.05], IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in serum were also elevated [IL-1β (ng/L): 127.53±7.10 vs. 79.40±2.80, 82.95±2.25; IL-6 (μg/L): 6.28±0.82 vs. 2.96±0.35, 3.36±0.72; TNF-α (mg/L): 1.59±0.42 vs. 0.53±0.22, 0.78±0.25; allP < 0.05]. The mRNA expressions and protein levels of LC3B, COX-Ⅳ and NF-κB p65 in lung tissue of HVT group were significantly higher than those of CON group and NVT group, the mRNA expressions of LC3B-Ⅱ, COX-Ⅳ and NF-κB p65 were (3.52±0.90), (3.76±1.16) and (9.54±2.06) folds of those in CON group, and the protein expressions were (1.76±0.24), (1.65±0.20) and (1.91±0.12) folds of those in CON group, with significantly statistical differences (allP < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the parameters mentioned above between NVT group and CON group.Conclusion Mitophagy may be associated with VILI resulting from escaped mitochondrial DNA for activation of inflammation.

Objective To identify the effects of virus specific amino acids in the fusion active domains of paramyxovirus fusion proteins on the specific membrane fusion. Methods Site-directed mutagenesis was used to obtain mutants in the identified fusion active domains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion protein (F) and human parainfluenza virus (hPIV) fusion protein (F). All the mutant F genes were co-expressed with their homol-ogous or heterogenous hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) genes in eukaryocytes. The fusion functions of mutants were assayed by Giemsa staining and reporter gene method. The expression efficiencies of mutants were assayed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Results In the NDV F mutants, N150D-L152D had 46.31% fusion activity of wide type. The fusion activities of N257D-N258D-Q259E, G271D-N272D and Q279E-Q281E almost disappeared, and they had only 1.25%, 3.14% and 2.23% of fusion activities, respectively, compared with wide type. N296D-N297D had 97.68% fusion activity of wide type. In the hPIV F mutants, D143A-E145A had 32.63% fusion activity of wide type. The fusion activity of E223Q-K224A almost disappeared, and it had only 1.91% fusion activity of wide type. K263A-R265A, D268A-D270A and R475A-R476A had 14.63%, 19.52% and 28.95% of fusion activities respectively compared with wild type. The analysis of FACS indicated that proteins of NDV F N257D-N258D-Q259E, G271D-N272D, Q279E-Q281E and hPIV F E223Q-K224A were not expressed on the cell surface, while proteins of the rest mutants were expressed nearly as the same as the wide types. Con-clusion As to NDV F, the amino acids of N257, N258, Q259, G271, N272, Q279 and Q281 were significant to the specific membrane fusion, and N150 and L152 were also important, but N296 and N297 were not. For hPIV F, the amino acids of E223 and K224 were significant to the specific membrane fusion, and D143, E145, K263, 11265, D268, D270, R475 and R476 were also important.

Objective To analyse the clinicopathological changes of Alport syndrome (AS) and to detect the deposition of type Ⅳ collagen within basement membrane of Alport patients. Methods Fourteen patients with AS (12 families) hospitalized from 1990. 1 to 1996. 6 were investigated. Eleven were male and 3 female (mean age 29. 4 years). Results Microscopic hematuria was found in 13, with recurrent gross hematuria in 7. All had proteinuria. Three patients presented nephrotic syndrome. Progressive renal failure occured in 10 of 11 male(11 - 39 years) and 1 female (40 years). Six patients were treated with hemodialysis, two of them with transplantation. Sensorineural deafness was observed in 9 patients particularly high frequency sound. Anterior lenticonus were presented in 2. It showed heterogeneitic, 50% transmitted as X-linked dominant(XD) trait. In 7 renal biopsies, the findings by light microscopy mostly revealed focal and segmental sclerosis glomerulonephritis (4/7). The results of immunofluorescenc e (IF) were ne gatt ye in 4. Ultrastructural studies showed variable thickening, thinning of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) in 7 specimens with lamellation and basket-weaving of GBM in 1. Using the iIF technique, the ?3, 4, 5 (Ⅳ) chains were absent within both GBM and EBM of 4 male XD-AS patients. Conclusions AS is not a rare hereditary disease characterized by hematuria, proteinuria and progressive renal failure with sensorineural deafness and ocular lesions. Type Ⅳ collagen within Alpori patients' basement membrane is abnormal and iIF study of type Ⅳ collagen chains distribution is useful to confirm the diagnosis of AS.

Objective To study the effects of three therapies on shoulder pains after gynecological laparoscopies.Methods After the gynecological laparoscopies,180 patients were randomly assigned to hot compress group(n=57),oxygen therapy group (n=65)and routine care group as control group(n=58).All the patients in the three groups were given oxygen inhalation for three hours.Besides,those controls were given mental care,comfort support and massage,while those in the two experiment groups were managed with hot compress on the shoulder and oxygen inhalation via nasal tube at 2 L/min each for 2 hours at 8 am and 4 pm on the first day.The three groups were compared in terms of shoulder pains,at different time points on the first day(at 8 am,4 pm and 8 pm). Results After intervention,there were significant differences between the three groups in terms of shoulder pains(P<0?05).In both experiment groups,the scores on the shoulder pains after intervention were significantly lower than those before intervention(P<0?001). Conclusions Hot compress and oxygen treatment are both effective in relief of the shoulder pain after gynecological laparoscopy. Therefore,the therapy can be decided on economic conditions and postoperative rehabilitations.

Compound traditional Chinese medicine database was established by collecting 176 compound formulas for dysmenorrhea in the last twenty years. The proportion and frequency of herbal medicine were analyzed and the main herbs with mono-target or multi-target in the compound formulas were selected with simple and multiple linear regression. The linear regression equations were listed and the clinical effects of the compound formulas were evaluated. Of 173 herbs used in the compound formulas, the proportion and frequency of the herbs for activating blood and transforming stasis and regulating qi flow were high in the application. The dosage interval for 20 herbs in common use was estimated. Main herbs with mono-target or multi-target used in the compound formulas were selected with simple and multiple linear regression. The total effectiveness rate of the 176 compound formulas was tested with simple linear regression, and 167 compound formulas (94.84 % of the total) had the absolute error less than 4%. Herbs for activating blood and transforming stasis and regulating qi flow are most commonly used in treatment of dysmenorrhea. Clinical effects of the compound formulas could be forecast with stepwise regression equation.

Plasma homocystein (Hcy) level and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism were investigated in 50 normal subjects, 32 cases of hypothyroidism and 48 cases of hyperthyroidism. As compared with normal group, plasma Hcy level was increased in hypothyroidism group (P

We carried out a dietary investigation of pupils aged 10 - 11 in Mei county in Shaanxi with level-based community random sample method. The result showedthat the average intake of daily food was mainly grain. That of energy was less than 70% of RDA and 60% of WHO. That of the protein was less than 70% of RDA in male and 60% of RDA in female. That of the other nutrients was less than 60% of RDA except iron, nicotinic acid and thiamine. Energy allocation among three mels was not adequate in male pupils. There waas higher energy in breakfast and supper, not sufficent at lunch.

Objective To investigate the significance of measuring carotid arterial intima-media thickness(IMT) and diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods 76 diabetic patients were divided into three groups:no diabetic retinopathy(NDR),nonpmliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR),and proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).20 helath people were chosen as control All subjects were examined by ColorDoppler imaging on the carotid arterial intima-media thickness.Results The mean IMT was significantly higher in T_2DM patients than in normal control group(P

This paper studied the relationship between apolipoprotein E isoforms and hyperlipidemia among 92 cases of diabetes mellitus, 174 cases with impaired glucose tolerance and 124 sex-age-matched controls. The results demonstrated that the patients with abnormal glucose tolerance had higher frequency of E2/3 isoforms and lower frequency of E, / , in com parison with controls. Hyperlipoproteinemia were mainly related to hyperglycemia but the Apo E isoforms which ex pressed different alleles also associated with hyperlipoproteinemia.